Stacked Patch Antenna Array Broadband Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front-end antenna sensors for passive detection are narrowband, lack configurability, are not compact, and are expensive, limiting their precision and applicability in high-precision applications.
Innovation Solution
A broadband stacked patch antenna array is designed, comprising a conductive ground plane, a driven layer with resonant circular patches, an electrically insulating spacer, and a coupled layer, which are scalable and cost-effective, enabling flexible radiation patterns and high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If narrowband antenna design is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but impedance bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple discrete resonant patches arranged in a planar array. Each patch operates at a specific resonant frequency, and by carefully designing the spacing and dimensions of these segmented elements, the antenna achieves broadband operation through constructive combination of multiple resonances while maintaining simple individual element fabrication
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple resonant patches are combined in a planar array configuration where their electromagnetic fields interact constructively. The merging of these individual resonant elements creates a unified broadband radiation pattern, allowing the antenna to operate across a wide impedance bandwidth (20-40%) while using simple, low-cost patch structures
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional antenna arrays are used, then radiation pattern configurability is achieved, but device compactness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna transitions from traditional three-dimensional array structures to a two-dimensional planar configuration. By arranging resonant patches in a flat array on a single substrate plane, the design achieves radiation pattern configurability through planar element spacing and phasing while dramatically reducing the antenna's volume and enabling compact integration into space-constrained applications
3Ease of manufacture
If narrowband antenna sensors are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna replaces complex mechanical steering mechanisms with electromagnetic field control. By using electronically controllable phasing and amplitude weighting of the resonant patch elements, the radiation pattern can be precisely steered and shaped without moving parts, achieving high pointing accuracy while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standard PCB fabrication techniques
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a compact, cost-efficient, and highly accurate broadband antenna array capable of producing sum, difference, and individual element patterns, offering improved pointing accuracy and impedance matching across a wide bandwidth, suitable for high-frequency applications.
Implementation Method 1
each electrically connecting to a respective electrical transmission line such that a received electrical signal excites and generates an electromagnetic signal and/or a received electromagnetic signal excites and generates an electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
a received electrical signal excites and generates an electromagnetic signal and/or a received electromagnetic signal excites and generates an electrical signal
Implementation Method 3
an electrically insulating spacer adjacent to the driven layer... wherein the electrically insulating spacer electrically separates the driven layer and the coupled layer
Implementation Method 4
the electrically insulating spacer electrically separates the driven layer and the coupled layer having a thickness such that the resonances of the first and second resonant circular patches constructively combine
Data Source
AI summary
A stacked patch antenna array includes: a conductive ground plane configured to connect to a plurality of electrical transmission lines for transmitting and/or receiving electrical signals; a driven layer adjacent to the conductive ground plane formed of a dielectric material and comprising a plurality of first resonant circular patches, each electrically connecting to a respective electrical transmission line such that a received electrical signal excites and generates an electromagnetic signal and/or a received electromagnetic signal excites and generates an electrical signal; an electrically insulating spacer adjacent to the driven layer; and a coupled layer adjacent to the electrically insulating spacer formed of a dielectric material and comprising a plurality of second resonant circular patches which are symmetrically positioned with respect to the first circular resonant patches of the driven layer and excited by the electromagnetic waves generated by the first resonant circular patches, wherein the electrically insulating spacer electrically separates the driven layer and the coupled layer having a thickness such that the resonances of the first and second resonant circular patches constructively combine.